Dr. Paul D. Coffin
Dr. Paul D. Coffin, D.P.M.
His practice
Dr. Paul Coffin opened his practice of podiatric medicine in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1981. Licensed in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota, Dr. Coffin specializes in biomechanics, orthotics and podiatric sports medicine. His patients come from throughout the tri-state area and from many areas of the country to take advantage of his expertise. Many physical therapists, physicians, coaches and trainers refer patients to him.
Dr. Coffin’s athletic patients range from professional basketball players to college and junior high and high school athletes to the occasional athletes and joggers. He takes special efforts to analyze and understand each person’s level of sports participation and their need for correct biomechanical function as it relates to their sport.
Dr. Coffin treats an equal number of people with no sports involvement. With similar analysis, Dr. Coffin evaluates and treats people of all ages and walks of life for issues with their feet.
Without exception, Dr. Coffin’s patients leave his office with a greater understanding of their foot type and how it affects their gait and body alignment. He will prescribe custom orthotics if needed and/or offer other appropriate treatments such as medication, injection therapy, stretching exercises or perhaps simply a change in footwear or activity.
His specialty
Dr. Coffin is a uniquely qualified expert in orthotics. Orthotics have been a part of his life since he was in college in LeMars, Iowa. He spent his summers working in an orthotics lab in Queens, New York, assisting his uncle, noted orthotics pioneer and sports podiatrist, Dr. Richard Schuster. He also helped his uncle with research and development of lectures and published articles on sports podiatry and orthotics. Dr. Schuster was a professor at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine, a regular columnist to The Runner magazine, and a charter member of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine.
Dr. Coffin “inherited” his uncle’s passion for trying to understand the biomechanics of walking and running and the creation of effective orthotics. He, too, enjoys sharing his biomechanical expertise through teaching and lectures and, of course, educating patients.
His training
Dr. Coffin received his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from the
New York College of Podiatric Medicine and completed a residency at the
Washington D.C. VA Medical Center.
Dr. Coffin worked at Schuster Orthotics Laboratory in New York City
for ten years where he studied under his late uncle, Dr. Richard
Schuster, a noted sports podiatrist and biomechanics authority.
His orthotics lab
Dr. Coffin started his own orthotics lab in the 80’s, making orthotic appliances for his own patients. In 2007 he expanded his lab to allow him to fabricate orthotics for other practitioners, primarily physical therapists who practice Postural Restoration techniques.
His affiliations
Dr. Coffin is a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association
and the Iowa Podiatry Society. He is a Fellow of both the American
Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine and the American Board of Podiatric
Surgery.
His outreach
Dr. Coffin speaks to many groups on feet, orthotics, shoes, biomechanics and sports podiatry. He loves to share his passion for biomechanics of the feet with coaches, doctors, therapists, athletes, students and the general public.
Recent lectures:
- Siouxland Medical Education Foundation, Sioux City, IA, July 2011
- St. Alexius Center for Human Performance, Bismarck, ND, May 2011
- Mid-American Athletic Trainers’ Association Annual Symposium, Omaha, NE, March 19, 2011
- The Postural Restoration Institute, Lincoln, NE, April, 2011
- Academy of Physical Education, Warsaw, Poland, October 12, 2009
- Polytechnic Institute, Opale, Poland, Foot Biomechanics, October 10, 2009